Troop 764 Scouting Times Newsletter -- September, 1999

Troop 764 Scouting Times -- Volume 2, Issue 3 -- September 20, 1999
E-mail Troop 764

Lord Robert Baden-Powell

Please take a minute to vote for Boy Scout founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell as the Person of the Century in Time Magazine's poll. Type Lord Robert Baden-Powell into Time's submission form at: http://www.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html

Want to know more about Baden-Powell? Read about the Scouting portion of the Porwoll's recent trip to Kenya at:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Geyser/5770/nyeri.html

Popcorn! Popcorn! Popcorn!

The troop preliminary popcorn order arrived at the Scout Hut on September 18. See Mr. Owens if you would like to pick up some of this Show and Sell popcorn.

Visit or call your customers from last year and confirm their orders. Weekday evenings between 6-7:30pm sell in your neighborhood (with a buddy or a parent!). Also, you can arrange to sell at Wal-Mart, Kroger, Blockbuster, etc. If three or four Scouts team up you should be able to sell $200 of popcorn per hour. Four hours of work should put you into a nice prize bracket. Having the actual popcorn in hand should really get your sales poppin'! Don't ask people if they want to buy popcorn -- ask if they would like to help the Boy Scouts!

So far Austin, Ted S. and our new Scouts are leading the way with sales. As of September 20 Austin and Ted have sold over $200, Evan & Stevie sold $240 at Kroger and Mitchell O. has sold $1,300.

At St. Luke's on September 19 four Scouts sold $659!!! Mr. Owens still needs Scouts at St. Luke's on October 10 (2 from 10:20-11am and 4 from 12-12:40pm) and October 24 (1 Scout from 12-12:40pm)

Important dates to remember:

Sunday, September 19, October 10 & 24 -- Sell at St. Luke's (only if you signed up)
Saturday, October 9 and November 13 -- Sell at Men's Breakfast (only if you signed up)
Monday, November 1 -- Sale ends and all order and prize forms are due to Mr. Owens
Saturday, November 20 -- Final popcorn order arrives at the Scout Hut.
          Pick up your order today (check the web calendar or your folder for times)!
Sunday, December 12 -- Turn in all your popcorn money at the pot luck dinner

Every troop meeting you can pick up popcorn until it's gone.

REMEMBER -- this year you keep 100% of the profits (in your Scout account)!

Also, thanks to Scott, Mitchell O. and Mr. Owens for helping Kernel Debbie Scott at the popcorn warehouse on September 18!

Scouts Sail Into the Sunset!

Troop 764 sent three crews to Florida Sea Base at Islamorada, Florida, this summer. Crew 1 went July 6-13, while crews 2 & 3 went August 9-16. All crews were blessed with good weather and everyone had a great time (except maybe Mr. Steidle). While sailing and snorkeling were fun, everyone agreed the trip highlight was the day spent in Key West. It was like entering another world.

Everyday was spent sailing, fishing, eating, napping and working on our tans. Crews 2 & 3 also were able to catch lobster for dinner. Food was plentiful and tasty. This was high adventure vacation style!

Be sure to check out the pictures on the wall of the Scout Hut.

Visit the troop Sea Base web site at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Geyser/5770/seabase.html

You can see the photo gallery at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Geyser/5770/sb_photos1.html

Court of Honor Held August 30

On August 30 the Scout Hut was the scene of our troop's biggest and best court of honor ever! Never have so many awards been given to so many deserving Scouts and adult leaders -- and we didn't award any summer rank advancements (that will be on October 18).

Speaking of advancement -- the October 18 meeting will be a court of honor. You need to call Mr. DuBois for your Scoutmaster's conference if you have completed your requirements for advancement. Mr. Hale can tell you what you are missing, if you're not sure. You also need to call Mr. Hale to schedule a Board of Review on Monday, October 11.

Troop Wants & Needs!   Can You Help?

We do not have a newsletter editor. If you have word processing or desktop publishing skills and would like to help, please contact Earl Owens. We publish about five newsletters each year. If you collect information as it happens, the newsletter takes very little time.

Troop needs a television set (preferably 25" or larger) and a VCR in good working order. We often have informational and training videos to show the Scouts and leaders, as well as social opportunities outside of normal troop functions, and it would be great if we had a TV and VCR handy. We will give you a receipt for tax purposes.

Georgia Tech Football and Ushering

On Saturday, September 18, the troop attended the Georgia Tech vs. Central Florida football game with free tickets given to the Scouts by Tech. On an incredibly beautiful fall evening everyone had a great time -- especially Tech which won by an impressive score of 41-10.

Don't forget Georgia Tech ushering opportunities. Arrive at the game 2 1/2 hours before kickoff, have a light snack, work half the game and then enjoy some football. Available dates are Sept. 30 (Maryland), Oct. 9 (North Carolina), Nov. 13 (Clemson) and Nov. 27 (Georgia - you must usher 1 previous game to do this one). Call Mr. Owens if you are interested.

We have several folks already signed up for the Tech-UNC game. Why not join us?

Troop 764 Scouts Are Soaring High!

Four of our Scouts -- Austin, Peter, Bradley S. and Jordan -- have finished their Eagle Scout projects. Congratulations for completing a big step on the trail to Eagle. Check out project pictures in the Scout Hut. On Sunday, September 12, several Scouts and leaders attended the consecration of Bradley's prayer garden at Lutheran Church of the Apostles.

Matt F. and Mitch S. have started their projects, so give them your support when they call for help.

Looking for a great Eagle Scout project? Check out the bat house and blue bird trail information in the Hut. Also, you can contact the Big Trees Project at (770) 643-1803 or the Land Preservation Trust at (770) 594-9367. Both of these organizations are in the same Sandy Springs office building and can give you many Eagle project opportunities.

Northern Tier Payment Due!

We have four Scouts (Scott, Phil, Matt F., & Matt P.) and three leaders (Messrs. Owens, French & Porwoll) signed up for the Canoe Base trip scheduled for July 22-29, 2000, in Ely, Minnesota.

First payment ($150) for Northern Tier was due to Mr. Owens, Monday, September 13.

Remaining payment schedule (please mark your calendars):

$225 due Monday, December 13
$225 due Monday, March 13
$200 due Monday, June 5

Total due is $800. If you plan to use frequent flyer miles you need to inform Mr. Owens ASAP! The June payment will be adjusted (+/-) for final travel costs.
We have one more Canoe Base slot available! If you will be age 14 by January 1, 2000, and First Class rank by July, 2000, you are eligible to go. Contact Mr. Owens ASAP. If we do not hear from you soon, we will contact other troops in the Dunwoody area for candidates.

Philmont Payments Are Also Due!

We have nine Scouts (Austin, Eric, Bradley S., Brent, Brian D., Jordan, Peter, Justin & Matt F.) and two leaders (Messrs. Igleheart & Wright) signed up for the Atlanta Area Council Philmont trip scheduled for June 20-July 2, 2000, in Cimarron, New Mexico.

First payment ($150) for Philmont was due to Mr. Wright, Monday, September 13.

A payment schedule will be distributed later.

Approximate total cost is $900. If you plan to use frequent flyer miles you need to inform Mr. Wright ASAP!
We have one more Philmont slot available! If you will be age 14 by January 1, 2000, and Star rank by June, 2000, you are eligible to go. Contact Mr. Wright ASAP. If we do not hear from you soon, we will contact other troops in the Dunwoody area for candidates.

Ted S. Shines As Troop Historian and As Cub Day Camp Volunteer!

Ted S. is setting an unparalleled standard as troop historian. When you come to our troop meetings check out his handiwork on the walls of the Scout Hut. Lots of pictures and neat displays.

Troop leadership received a great report about Ted's work at Cub Day Camp! Dorothy Sheffield, Hightower Trail Cub Scout Day Camp Director, gave a glowing report on Ted's performance as a Cub Day Camp volunteer June 21-25. Ms. Sheffield said he was a real asset to the staff and was a key ingredient for the camp's success.

Ted -- Thanks for doing such a great job!

Thank-you Letter From the Dunwoody Community Action Center (6/21/99)

"Community Action Center thanks you for your generous donation of groceries for our clients. Your generosity will enable us to assist our clients with their needs of either rent or utilities. It is gratifying to know that the community remembers the needy of our area with generosity such as yours."

Thanks Scouts!

Troop Attends Camp "Mud-ruff" July 11-17, 1999

Twenty-two Scouts and three adults weathered the monsoons Sunday and Monday at Woodruff Scout Reservation near Blairsville, Georgia. On Tuesday Justin finally figured out how to turn on the sun (we used to think he was tight with the weather gods).

The weather got us off to a slow start, but once we settled in everyone had a great time. The staff at Woodruff was one of the best we have ever experienced; however, the 593 Scouts were more than they were prepared to handle. This created some glitches which lessened what could have been our best camp ever.

The highlight of the week was the Thursday river rafting trips on either the Nantahala or the Ocoee. We had sunshine and fastwater for a great day on the river!

Thanks to Mr. Owens, Mr. Schenck & Mr. Barton (and their families) for giving a week of their time to be with our Scouts! Also, thanks to Fred and Debbie Spangler for doing all the administrative work before we left.

More Woodruff News!

Troop 764 Ode to Woodruff (sung to the tune of: "O Tannenbaum")

One more day, Oh, one more day,
Get here quickly Saturday!
One more day, Oh, one more day,
Until we make our getaway!

The staff's been great, the food we hate.
The friends we've made, we appreciate.
Many badges we have earned,
Oh Woodruff thanks for all we've learned.

Regarding Woodruff, Mr. Owens recently received this email from Charles Hebert, 1980 Troop 764 Eagle Scout, about the flagpole dedicated to Will Cashin from our troop:

"Will Cashin was a member of our troop that died accidentally in 1980. If I remember correctly he was about 2 years younger than myself. So he was about 16 in 1980 when he died. His family had just moved away a few months before the accident. I don't think he was a member of St. Luke's. Not sure about his parents.

I was on the flag corps that dedicated that flagpole at the first summer camp at Woodruff in 1980. We gave the first flag to his parents after the ceremony. Sad time, I had forgotten about that.

I remember those early years at Woodruff. They were exciting. We used to go primitive camping on the land before the Scout camp opened. Beautiful area. I will be in touch, Charles"

2001 National Jamboree Staff Applications Are Now Available!

If your son is planning to go to the National Scout Jamboree at Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia, from July 23 - August 1, 2001 (Atlanta Area Council troops will leave July 20 for Washington, DC), you should consider volunteering for a staff position, so you may also experience the Jambo thrill. Some staff positions are limited, so if you have a particular skill or interest, you should apply early. Mr. Owens has a list of positions and the numbers for each.

Scouts and Scouters should talk to Mr. Owens or any of our former Jamboree Scouts (Matt P., Justin, Scott, Bradley S., Michael Sa., Brian D., or Eric) to find out what this incredible activity is all about!

Scouts must be First Class rank and have either completed the sixth grade or be age 12 by July 1, 2001, and not age 18 by September 1, 2001 (to experience Jambo at its fullest twelve year olds should be mature for their age).

Check out a great Jamboree web site at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/2001/index.html

Food For Thought!

Never underestimate the forces of nature,
And never overestimate your skills!

Revised Leave No Trace Principles!

Plan ahead and prepare

Travel and camp on durable surfaces

Dispose of waste properly

Leave what you find

Minimize campfire impacts

Respect wildlife

Be considerate of other visitors

While similar to the previous LNT principles these are intended to be more encompassing and better address social issues and recreational impacts on wildlife.

Our troop toll-free number is 1-877-585-2417 (call us from anywhere in the U.S.)
If a need exists to contact us while we are on an outing, let us know beforehand,
and we will check messages (if we have access to phone service).

Be sure to check out the troop calendar on the next page!

Troop 764 Calendar Update (as of 9/20/99)
For the most complete and current calendar information visit our troop calendar web site at:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Geyser/5770/calendar.html

September:

25-26 - Backpacking in Slickrock Wilderness, Wildcat Falls, NC
27 - NO TROOP MEETING! PLC will meet!

October:

4 - Troop Meeting
9 - Ushering at Georgia Tech (North Carolina)
10 - Popcorn Sales at St. Luke's (only if you signed up)
10 - Troop Committee Meeting
11 - Troop Meeting (Boards of Review during troop meeting!)
18 - Troop Meeting 7:30pm & Court of Honor 8:15pm (parents should attend!)
24 - Popcorn Sales at St. Luke's (only if you signed up)
25 - Troop Meeting
29-31 - Camporee at Stone Mountain
31 - Popcorn Sales End

November:

1 - NO TROOP MEETING! (see below about popcorn) -- PLC will meet!
     ****Bring your popcorn orders to the Scout Hut 7:30-8:30pm****
8 - Troop Meeting
14 - Troop Committee Meeting
15 - Troop Meeting
20 - Popcorn Delivery to the Scout Hut (Pick up your popcorn today!!!)
22 - NO TROOP MEETING!   NO PLC MEETING! -- Holiday
29 - Troop Meeting

December:

5-6 - Backpacking on Jones Gap Trail, South Carolina
7 - NO TROOP MEETING! PLC will meet!
12 - Troop Pot Luck Holiday Dinner 5:30-7:30pm (NOTE: This is a Sunday!) -- This will replace our troop meeting. We will have a brief Court of Honor and Philmont & Sea Base slide shows. All popcorn money is also due by today. Bring to the dinner.
13 - NO MEETING!
20 - NO MEETING! -- Holiday
27 - NO MEETING! -- Holiday

January:

3 - Troop Meeting
9 - Troop Committee Meeting
10 - Troop Meeting
15-17 - Backpacking on Cumberland Island (limited to first 20 to sign up and pay fee!)